Who is Guillermo Rodriguez? He is the longtime television personality best known for his role on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he has worked for more than two decades after starting as a parking-lot security guard at the show’s studio. As of the latest update, Rodriguez is also competing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars and has launched his own refrigerated salsa brand, Guillermo’s Salsa.
The 55-year-old entertainer has built a distinctive career around his friendly personality, comedy segments and close professional relationship with host Jimmy Kimmel. His rise from a behind-the-scenes security job to a regular television presence remains one of the more unusual paths in late-night entertainment.
His latest projects show that his career has moved beyond his familiar role on late-night television. In 2026, Rodriguez added entrepreneurship and ballroom dancing to his growing list of activities while continuing his work with Kimmel.
Who Is Guillermo Rodriguez?
Guillermo Rodriguez is a Mexican-born American television personality and comedian who became widely known through Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, on January 27, 1971.
Rodriguez moved to the United States and eventually settled in California. He became a U.S. citizen in 2005 and has remained closely associated with Southern California throughout his television career.
His public profile grew after he began working as a security guard at the Hollywood Boulevard studio where Jimmy Kimmel Live! was produced. At the time, Rodriguez had no conventional path into television.
That changed when producers noticed his personality and began incorporating him into segments. What started as an occasional on-camera appearance eventually became a permanent part of the program.
Today, ABC describes Rodriguez as a regular presence on the show who frequently appears alongside Kimmel and participates in special segments.
His career has now lasted more than 23 years.
How Guillermo Rodriguez Started on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Rodriguez’s connection to Jimmy Kimmel Live! dates back to 2003, when the program began airing.
He initially worked around the studio as a parking-lot security guard. His job had nothing to do with entertainment, but his interactions with people at the studio eventually brought him into the show’s orbit.
Rodriguez’s early appearances involved security-themed comedy with the late Frank Potenza, who was another recognizable member of the program’s early cast.
The producers gradually gave Rodriguez more opportunities to appear in comedy sketches and other segments. His natural reactions and distinctive personality made him memorable to viewers.
Instead of remaining a background employee, he became part of the show’s on-camera identity.
Over time, Rodriguez took on increasingly prominent assignments. He interviewed celebrities, participated in comedy pieces and traveled with Kimmel for special segments.
His role eventually expanded well beyond the security guard character associated with his beginnings.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Jimmy Kimmel’s Long Professional Relationship
One of the defining parts of Rodriguez’s television career is his long-running relationship with Jimmy Kimmel.
Rodriguez is not the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but his recurring presence has made him one of the program’s most recognizable personalities.
Kimmel regularly brings Rodriguez into comedy segments and conversations. Their relationship has also become part of the show’s broader entertainment style.
Rodriguez has appeared in segments involving major celebrities, sporting events, awards shows and travel.
His work at the Oscars became particularly recognizable. He has also participated in segments connected with professional sports and other major entertainment events.
The relationship has continued into 2026.
ABC’s current biography for Rodriguez says he continues to be featured regularly on the program. The network also identifies his long-running association with the show as a central part of his career.
How Old Is Guillermo Rodriguez?
Guillermo Rodriguez is 55 years old as of September 2026.
He was born on January 27, 1971, in Zacatecas, Mexico.
His age has received renewed attention because of his appearance on Dancing With the Stars. The ballroom competition places Rodriguez in a different television environment from the late-night comedy format that made him famous.
At 55, he is taking on a demanding rehearsal schedule while continuing his television work.
Where Is Guillermo Rodriguez From?
Rodriguez was born in Zacatecas, Mexico.
His hometown is an important part of his public story because his background has frequently been reflected in his television personality and comedy.
He later moved to the United States and established his career in California.
ABC identifies Zacatecas, Mexico, as his hometown and California as his current state of residence. The network also confirms that he became a U.S. citizen in 2005.
His story has therefore developed across two countries, beginning in Mexico and eventually leading to a long-running career in American television.
Guillermo Rodriguez Joins Dancing With the Stars
One of the biggest developments in Rodriguez’s career in 2026 is his participation in Dancing With the Stars.
Rodriguez joined Season 35 of the ABC competition after spending more than two decades as a television sidekick and supporting personality.
The announcement came on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Kimmel revealed Rodriguez as a contestant.
The casting created a new opportunity for Rodriguez to appear as the central performer rather than primarily as part of someone else’s comedy segment.
For Season 35, Rodriguez is partnered with professional dancer Witney Carson.
The pair made their ballroom debut during the season premiere on September 15, 2026.
The season’s premiere uses a two-night format, with additional performances scheduled for September 16.
What Did Guillermo Rodriguez Dance to on DWTS?
Rodriguez and Witney Carson performed a cha cha during the first night of the Season 35 premiere.
Their song was “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight.
The premiere’s format assigned each celebrity a No. 1 hit connected to the year they were born. Rodriguez’s performance therefore incorporated a song associated with his birth year.
His appearance marks a major change from the type of performance viewers normally see from him on late-night television.
Instead of conducting celebrity interviews or participating in comedy sketches, Rodriguez is learning ballroom choreography and performing under the show’s competitive format.
Guillermo Rodriguez’s Dancing With the Stars Training
Rodriguez has spoken openly about the physical demands of preparing for the competition.
He revealed that he had been rehearsing for about three hours a day, five days a week.
That schedule has created a significant change in his daily routine.
Rodriguez also joked about an unexpected result from his training. Rather than losing weight, he said he gained weight during his preparation.
A televised weigh-in showed a substantial increase from his earlier measurement.
Rodriguez humorously attributed the change to eating after rehearsals because the training left him extremely hungry. He also joked that the added weight represented muscle.
The comments became part of his promotional run leading into the new season.
Despite the jokes, Rodriguez has emphasized that he is enjoying the experience and working hard with Carson.
Is Guillermo Rodriguez Still on Jimmy Kimmel Live!?
Yes. Rodriguez has not left Jimmy Kimmel Live! because of his participation in Dancing With the Stars.
His ballroom appearance represents an additional television project rather than a replacement for his long-running role with Kimmel.
ABC’s current biography continues to identify Rodriguez as a regular part of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The distinction is important because his DWTS casting could have led viewers to wonder whether he was moving away from late-night television.
Current information indicates that he continues to be associated with both programs.
His participation in two ABC programs also gives viewers an opportunity to see different sides of his television persona.
On Kimmel’s show, his role centers on comedy, interviews and recurring segments. On DWTS, he performs choreographed dances as a contestant.
Guillermo Rodriguez Launches Guillermo’s Salsa
Rodriguez has also entered the food business.
In January 2026, he launched Guillermo’s Salsa, a refrigerated salsa brand developed with Chris Kirby, the founder of Ithaca Hummus.
The product represents another step in Rodriguez’s career beyond television.
The salsa debuted at Costco locations in the Northeast on January 15, 2026. The company later expanded distribution and has continued adding retail locations.
The brand’s official information says the salsa is currently available through Costco and other grocery stores, with additional locations coming.
The company offers multiple varieties, including mild, medium and hot salsa.
Its ingredients include tomatoes, lime juice, onions, cilantro and peppers.
Rodriguez has connected the product to his family background and his memories of traditional homemade salsa.
Where Can You Find Guillermo’s Salsa?
Guillermo’s Salsa initially launched through Costco stores in the Northeast.
By 2026, the brand had expanded beyond its initial launch area.
The company’s current website identifies Costco and other grocery stores as retail outlets and provides a store locator for consumers.
A May 2026 launch at Tops Friendly Markets also brought the refrigerated salsa to another major grocery chain.
The expansion reflects the company’s broader retail strategy.
The brand’s current product lineup includes three varieties:
- Mild
- Medium
- Hot
The salsa is refrigerated rather than designed as a traditional shelf-stable product.
The company has emphasized fresh ingredients and a refrigerated format as important parts of its identity.
Why Guillermo Rodriguez’s Salsa Business Matters to His Career
Rodriguez’s food business gives him a new professional role outside television.
For years, audiences primarily knew him as Kimmel’s sidekick. The salsa brand gives Rodriguez an opportunity to build something directly associated with his own name and background.
He co-founded the company with Chris Kirby, while Kimmelot Labs has been involved with creative and marketing work.
The business also connects to a story Rodriguez has shared about wanting his own salsa.
The launch turned that idea into a retail product sold in American grocery stores.
By September 2026, the salsa had become another visible part of Rodriguez’s public profile.
His simultaneous work in television, reality competition and food entrepreneurship represents a broader phase of his career.
Does Guillermo Rodriguez Have a Wife?
Yes. Rodriguez is married.
However, he has generally kept his family life away from the spotlight.
His wife has made occasional public appearances with him, but Rodriguez has not made extensive details about their relationship part of his public career.
Some recent entertainment coverage has identified his wife as Sarai, although Rodriguez himself has maintained a relatively private approach to his family.
That privacy has remained consistent throughout his television career.
Rather than regularly discussing his home life, Rodriguez generally focuses his public appearances on comedy, television projects and professional activities.
Does Guillermo Rodriguez Have Children?
Rodriguez has one son, Benji.
Benji was born in December 2011, and Rodriguez has shared occasional family moments publicly over the years.
He has also talked about spending time with his family and being involved in his son’s sports.
ABC’s current biography specifically lists family time and involvement in his son’s sports among Rodriguez’s interests.
His family has therefore remained an important part of his life even though he generally avoids placing them at the center of his public persona.
Why Does Jimmy Kimmel’s Son Have a Connection to Guillermo?
Guillermo Rodriguez has another unusual connection to the Kimmel family.
Jimmy Kimmel named his youngest son William “Billy” Kimmel.
The name William is the English equivalent of Guillermo, which is the Spanish form of William.
Kimmel has publicly explained the connection to Rodriguez.
That detail has become one of the more memorable examples of the long relationship between the two television personalities.
Rodriguez’s connection with Kimmel extends beyond their work on the late-night program and has become part of the show’s history.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Charlize Theron
Another recurring joke involving Rodriguez centers on actress Charlize Theron.
The two have participated in a long-running comedy bit suggesting that they are married.
The joke became especially visible after the 2024 Oscars, when Theron played along with social-media posts about their supposed relationship.
The relationship is a comedy routine, not a real marriage.
Rodriguez is married, while Theron’s participation in the joke has been part of the entertainment surrounding their appearances together.
The bit has continued as part of Rodriguez’s broader collection of recurring television jokes.
Guillermo Rodriguez’s Television Career Beyond Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Rodriguez has made appearances outside his regular late-night role.
His screen credits include appearances connected with films and television productions.
He appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and other entertainment projects, often in cameo or supporting roles.
His television work has also included appearances connected with major entertainment events.
Still, his most important professional association remains Jimmy Kimmel Live!
That program gave him the platform that transformed his career from a studio security position into a nationally recognizable television personality.
Guillermo Rodriguez’s Career Timeline
A look at Rodriguez’s career shows how dramatically his professional life has changed:
| Year | Career milestone |
|---|---|
| 1971 | Born in Zacatecas, Mexico |
| 2003 | Began working as a security guard at the studio associated with Jimmy Kimmel Live! |
| 2003 onward | Began appearing on the television program |
| 2005 | Became a U.S. citizen |
| 2011 | Son Benji was born |
| 2024 | His comedic relationship with Charlize Theron received renewed attention |
| January 2026 | Guillermo’s Salsa launched at Costco locations in the Northeast |
| May 2026 | Salsa expanded to Tops Friendly Markets |
| June 2026 | Rodriguez was revealed as a Dancing With the Stars contestant |
| September 2026 | Began competing on Dancing With the Stars Season 35 |
What Is Guillermo Rodriguez Doing Now?
As of the latest update in September 2026, Rodriguez is balancing several major professional activities.
He remains associated with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he has worked for more than 23 years.
At the same time, he is competing on Dancing With the Stars Season 35 with Witney Carson.
His salsa company is also continuing its retail expansion.
That combination gives Rodriguez a particularly busy period in his career.
His public profile currently spans late-night comedy, reality television and consumer food products.
The key point is that Rodriguez has not abandoned the role that made him famous. Instead, his latest projects add new dimensions to a career that began unexpectedly at a television studio parking lot.
What Makes Guillermo Rodriguez’s Career Unique?
Rodriguez’s career stands out because he did not enter television through the conventional route.
He did not begin as an established actor, comedian or television presenter.
He started as a security guard.
His personality and willingness to participate in comedy eventually turned that behind-the-scenes job into a long-running television career.
More than two decades later, Rodriguez remains part of the program that gave him his break.
His transition into Dancing With the Stars adds another unusual chapter. The same television personality known for interviewing celebrities and appearing in comedy sketches is now learning ballroom choreography under the direction of a professional dancer.
His salsa company adds another element.
Together, these developments show how Rodriguez has built a career around opportunities that developed from his television persona.
Who Is Guillermo Rodriguez Today?
So, who is Guillermo Rodriguez? He is a 55-year-old Mexican-born American television personality who became famous as a longtime member of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after starting his entertainment career as a parking-lot security guard.
In 2026, his career has entered another active period.
He is competing on Dancing With the Stars alongside Witney Carson, continuing his association with Jimmy Kimmel, and developing his Guillermo’s Salsa business.
His story remains closely tied to the American television industry, but his latest projects show that his work now reaches well beyond late-night comedy.
Rodriguez’s journey from a studio parking lot to national television, ballroom competition and grocery-store shelves has made his career distinctly recognizable.
What do you think about Guillermo Rodriguez’s latest career chapter? Share your thoughts and stay updated on his television and business journey.